Variable speed power transmission



Dec. l, 1931. c. H. LoGuE VARIABLE SPEED POWER I'rlmzsnnsslon Filed Aug. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet Decl, 1931. c. H. LOGUE VARIABLE SPEED POWER TRANSMISSION Filed Aug. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f W W W W W w W MTA/ESS Patented Dec. 1, 1931 `UNlTE-STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES H. LOGUE, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK VARIABLE SPEED POWER TRANSMISSION Application led August 12, 1929. Serial No. 385,106.

This invention relates to a variable speed driven-shaft and counter-shaft in addition power transmitting mechanism preferably of to the end bearings for those shafts. the selective sliding gear type adapted to be rlhe general practice here therefore has used more particularly in the connection bebeen to make the major portion of the gear f, tween the crankshaft of the engine and runcase proper in one cast unit normally closed 55 ning gear of a motor vehicle and involves the by a cap section which rendered the assemuse ot relatively rotatable co-axial driving bling of the internal mechanism extremely laand driven-shafts and a counter-shaft paralborious and expensive without deiinite knowllel therewith together with constant mesh edge that those internal mechanisms were m gears for transmittitng rotary motion from properly assembled. 60 the driving-shaft to the counter'-shaft and ad- Another object is to reduce the time, labor ditional constant mesh gears for transmitting and expense of assembling the gearing withrotary motion from the counter-shaft to the in the case and housing by dividing the gear driven-shaft through the medium ofa sliding case into two opposed sections in the plane 1l; clutch on the driven-shaft movable from a of the axes of the several shafts so that the G5 neutral position into and out of engagement internal mechanisms may be easily and quickwith the constant mesh gears on the driving ly installed in operative position in the bearand driven-shafts respectively :tor rotating ings of one of the case sections after which the the driven-shaft at engine speed or at an inother case section may be placed in operatermediate speed according to the position of tive position and the two sections firmly boltthe' sliding clutch. A ed together.

rlhe invention also contemplates the use of Another object is to provide the gear case a sliding gear splined on the driven-shaft to with a removable cap section having opposite rotate therewith and slidable axially from a pendant flanges engaged with the corre- ;:3 neutral position into and out of engagement spending outer faces of the case sections to 7 with a low speed gear on the counter-shaft assist in holding the two sections together and also movable into and out of engagement face to face. with lan idler gear which in turn is in con- Another' object is to provide the cooperative stant mesh with a reverse drive-pinion on the constant mesh gears with helical teeth arl-J counter-shaft thereby establishing, in this inranged so that the angle of Obliquity of one s() stance, three forward speeds and one reverse Set of gears are opposed to those of the other drive. set for the purpose of counteracting or bal- In most oi. the power transmitting meohancing any end thrust which may be produced anisms of this type the driven-shaft co-axial by the teeth of either set and thereby to furwith the driving-shaft is journaled at one end ther reduce the noise and wear of the bearings 35 in the corresponding end of the gear case for and mechanism carried by the counterwhile the other end is j ournaled in a socket in shaft and driving and driven-shafts. the rear end of the driving-shaft leaving a Another object is to arrange the spiral relatively long section of the driven-sh aft teeth in such manner that the tangente of the 1U free to vibrate radially under the stresses to angles of Obliquity will vary directly as the De which it is subjected. pitch diameter of the gears.

This vibration tends to weaken the shaft Other objects and uses relating to specilic by crystallization and also produces excessive parts of the power transmitting mechanism v noise in operation in addition to the extra will be brought out in the following descripif wear incidental to such vibration. tion. 95

One of the objects of the present invention In the drawings: is to reduce this vibration to a minimum and Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional thereby to avoid the attendant objectionable View of a variable speed power transmitting results of excessive noise and wear by promechanism embodying the various features j viding an intermediate bearing for the of my invention. 100

lio;

CTI

(its

Figures 2 and 3 are transverse vertical sectional views taken respectively in the planes of lines of 3 3 and 4 4, Figure l.

` Figure t is a face View of a portion of the l ing faces disposed in avertica-l planepassi-ng through the axis of the driven-shaft and counter-shaft and secured togetherbybolts 2 5- said'gear case also including a capsection 3 extending across the top ofthe sections lt and 1( and providediwith pendant flanges -fs---alongz its', opposite longitudilnali edgesk for engaging tlie corresponding outer faeesfoff the upper portions ofthe secr-- "tiener- -and 1-. toassist in. holding said` sections.in4 operative position...V

Theieap, seetioni 3 may besecuredto the'` Lippen ma-rlmal; edges vof. :the .sections 1 l and-5 1! byfbolts or. other suitable yfasten-y ing means and serves as a meansfor supportinggtheshifting mechanism for; the sliding and; slid-ing clutch..

Villiers-4.- thex sections 1 and 1":-- are assembled'fafce to;V face they form a. lubricant cham-ben 4t,- whichialsoiserves to receivev them-ajgor portions-of thepower transmitting mechanism hereinafter described, the front end offtheoasesections. 1 and l be'- ingnsecured byjholts 5 to. a supporting fnanreorheadlsection. 6 5k Figure 1.

The sections 1 and 1 are also providedwith. opposite end partition 7 and T v and an. intermediate partition.v 8 corresponding` partitions of both sections be.-` ing-alinedavith-eacfh other and provided with apertures for'receiving the clamp .bolts 2 The front partition 7 is provided with antieffrfictionvbearings Q and M arrangediin parallel relation one over the other forv receiving;andfsupporting the adjacent portions-.off aodiiine-sliaft. l2 and of. a connter-shaft l3 respectively. j

1 The.-.rear. ipartition: 7- is also. provided with Y anti-friction. bearingsl M and f l5 fon-,receiving the adjacent. .portions and aplane .hearing, 17 foi-*receiving and supporting the intermediate .portions fof: the clni-venfshaft y 12. andcounter-shaft 13 -respeetiilely andthereby to vreduce to a minimunt the vibration tof the intermediate portions of both the said shafts and at the. same time assisting in holdingzthe intermediatenconstant. inesh;gears. in, quiet .running engagement Withieach other. v 1 Y The anti frictionr vbearings1 9 ,y 10 M and 15 and 16- aref. constructed` case 1 is securedis provided with a removableghub. seetion. l.9, inserted in an openingn therein: around.` the drive-shaft 12. to assist in holdingfthe outerv retaining;

ring c for, Vthe loallbearfings,1 -9 l against forward displacementsain retainer ring being` heldagainst inner` displacementcby anannuf lar. shoulderKV vwhich is firmly secured to the adjacent. end partition.. 7 Figure l.

The outer .retaining,ringwfor the ballbear ine' 10. is heldagainstoutward displacement bythe rear. wallof the section 6 and isr also held, against inwardJ displacement by a flange 2.l vwhichis secured to the adj acentrpartiti'on. 7 )in additionalhub section, 22 is secured tothe rean kend ofl the. gear. ca'se l around the adjacent portion of, the. driven-shaft. lf2/Q for holding-the. outer ,retaining ring ofthe bal-lbearing M against rearward,displacement7` said ring being held againstinward displacement by `an annular flange 2S- whichnissecuredto the adjacent, rean end partition o Z"" Figure l.

The outer retaining ring for the. hallhearing l5 is firmly secured in an opening in the rear end ypartition Z- and is protected by',a.cap.sec,tionf 24i which is se# cured to therear. face. of the. gear case shown in Figurel; u ,f

They outer .retainingring for the. -ballbearing 1G- for?.theiintermediate portion of` the driven-shaft l2 is further secured' in an opening in the intermediate partition 8, c and-.isheldagainst end-wise movement byA a flange 25. onthe inner lend ofI the partition and. a. screwicollar 26 which is securedv in? an opening in the rear ends of the )partit-ion as shown. in Figure l.v i

. The. balls. of. ther. several bearings travel in groovesiinthe:innerf and outer retainer rings and..tlierehyhold the inner retainingv rings against relative axiallmovement.

The inner ,retainingring for the ballbearings Q is. secured to the -adjacent porti-on ofthe drivesshaft 12- whichhas its inner end enlarged to ahnt ,again-st the end face of the. innerring to holdV said shaft and inner ring againstrelative axial rrmvement in one. dinection., A 'A The .por ion ofthe shaft 12 infront of. the inner ringis threadednnd engaged; yby

clamping nut -27- to hold the inner ring and shaft against relative axial movement in the opposite direction.

In like manner the inner ball-retaining ring for the bearing 10- is secured to the reduced front end of the counter-shaft 1B- andis held against axial movement by a shoulder *28* on said shaft and a nut -Q9 engaging the front threaded end of said shaft. The inner ball retaining ring of the bearing --15h for the rear end of the counter-shaft is secured to the reduced rear end of said shaft and is held against axial movement between shoulder -30-' on the shaft and a nut 3lengaged with a rear threaded end thereof as shown in Figure l.

The inner ball retaining ring of the bearing -14- is secured to the reduced rear end yof the driven-shaft -12- and is held against axial movement between the shoulder -32- on said shaft and a sleeve or collar -33 which is mounted on the shaft within the hub 22-, said sleeve being held against rearward movement by a coupling Y member 34- which is secured to the shaft -l2- and is journaled in the rear end of the hub -22-, said coupling member being held againstrearward displacement by a nut -35- engaging the rear threaded end of the shaft, Figure l.

The rear end of the drive-shaft -12- is provided with a gear -36- in constant mesh with a companion gear 37- which is secured to the counter-shaft 19- for transmitting rotary motion to said counter-shaft.

The front end of the driven-shaft 12'- is reduced and journaled in a cylindrical socket -38 in the inner end of the driving-shaft -12- co-axial with and within the gear 36- to permit relative rotation of the driving and driven-shafts.

The intermediate portion of the countershatt -l3 is provided with a gear 39- in constant mesh with a companion gear 40h which loosely surrounds the intermediate portion of the driven-shaft 12- and is provided with a rearwardly extending hub -41 journaled in the bearing 1G- in the intermediate partition -8- as shown in Figure l, the hub of the gear being preferably journaled upon a cylindrical portion of the driven-shaft -12- through the medium of a bushing -42- to permit relative rotation of the intermediate gear and driven-shaft and at the same time to assist in holding the intermediate portion of the driven-shaft against radial vibration.

The gear 4;0- abuts against the front end of the inner ball retaining ring of the bearing -lG- while the rear end of the hub filis threaded and engaged by a nut -49- thereby holding the gear 4U- against axial movement.

The gear h39- is held against axial movement by the front end of the bearing 17- and a spacing sleeve *4.5- which also abuts against the rear end of the hub of the gear -37-, said hub being interposed between the sleeve -45- and rear end of the inner ball retaining ring of the bearing 104- to hold said gear B7- against axial movement.

The gears -36- and 4G- are arranged in co-axial spaced relation and are provided respectively with internal clutch teeth -47- and 4S- adapted to be engaged by clutch teeth -49- and -50- on the opposite ends of a sliding clutch member -51- which is splined on the adjacent portion of the drivenshaft -12- for axial movement in opposite directions.

This clutch member 51- is provided intermediate its ends with an annular groove -52- adapted to be engaged by any suitable shifting mechanism not shown, but operable at will in the usual manner for sliding gear transmission mechanism.

This clutch member 51- is normally in a neutral position between and out of engagement with the clutch teeth of the corresponding gears -36- and -40- but may be moved into engagement with either of said gears by the operation of shifting mechanism not shown.

For example, when it is desired to drive or rotate the shaft -12- at engine speed or at the speed of the driving-shaft 12* the clutch member -5lwill be shifted into engagement with the teeth -47- of the gear -36-, or when it is desired to rotate the shaft -12- at a different speed the clutch member -51- will be shifted into engagement with the clutch teeth 4S- of the gear --tO-, which is then being rotated by the gear -39- on the counter-shaft -18 thereby causing the rotation of the drivenshaft -12-. The ratio of the gears 36- and -37- is such as to rotate t-he countershaft -l3- at a lower rate of speed than that of the driving-shaft while the ratio ofl the gears -39- and -40- is such as to further reduce the speed of the driven-shaft l 2- when the clutch 5lis in engagement with the gear -40- and commonly known as the intermediate speed.

The rear end wall -7- and the intermediate partition -8- of the gear case -lare arranged in axially spaced relation and the portion of the driven-shaft -12- extending aeross the intervening space is provided with a series of, in this instance three, radial splines -52- in uniformly spaced relation eircumferentially as shown in Figure 3 while the interposed portions of the shaft between the splines is cylindrical to form relatively broad bearings for receiving and supporting a sliding gear -58- which is movable along and upon the adjacent portions of the shaft rotatable therewith.

The hub of the gear -53 is provided with internal splineways or grooves of subsee ' 1:9 the i bearings *eM-fiand 641 ,ft-hisgear*553-- is-movable `into Hand out ytiin'e'sh with rel-ativelys smallertgear 5lon fthe Icomiteir-"shaft -.13- whereby .relaytively :low speed rotary motion lwill be transmitted from the counter-shaft to the drivenshaft-1.2 Q e The 4" gigearvv,--`53--" is also Anovable V'aX- ially into and outl'offmeshwwith; an idlergear B5-which: is loosely mounted `upon astubsha'tt -'56-wit-hinv the :gear case- 1- and is in constant mesli-with a 4companiongea-r --57',\. on :the Counter-shaft- -13-f whereby .rotarymotionf'ywill be1transniitted 'from the A Connterfshaittto the `driveneshaft12- for driving the? latterin a reverse. direction thus completing shiftingoyole lforwthree speeds :forward fand' :one 'speed vrever-se drive.

The hub of the gear -53- is provided :zwi th annular-groove 53- for receiving nagelezen vibration 'f of ithe shafts VAand :thereby ineif dentally 'increasing theA ydurability Aand reli- .ability roi: the renti-re l' mechanism while the division of thegearrcase intoopposed sections meeting intheplane ofytheV axes of thefsha'fts enable the finterior: parts :tof be fmore Ieasily vandraecurately assembled in the gear case-'as a' contribution? to .thefnoiseless running of the moving'. parts. v

The f operati on fot the invention Vwille now bei readily. understood upon reference to the description and the` accompanying"drawings -and while f. the Y- lconstruction .shown fand f described is particularlyeiiieient in 'carrying Yontthe objeetfoiithe inventionit" is evident fno suitable shifting -meC-hanism not shown but 95 `bywhichtliegearmaybe shifted from its fneif'itral position f between ,fthe Agears-55- and --5.77,as shownin Figure 1i'nto'and out-ot engagement with said: gears. T355 vIt-will;lie-observedthatthe opposite-'faces l.of the splines on ithedriven-shaft -412- ,and.aCounter-shaftparallel:1t-herewith, and .and foorrespondingsides-'of the Vgrooves in .agear casein which said shafts arejournaled the clutch'niember-ffl-aand gear -53-1zeomprisingopposed sections 'meeting .in "a are' radi-altothefaxis ofsaid-sha'ft forreduepl-ane passingthroughthefaxes of said shafts .ing the liability offradi-alzthrust otsaid'eluteh .and detae-hably secured-to each-other and a i' .memberfandgear andincidentally-redueing Cap-plate across the top ot'the-seetions-hav- `theliabilityofvibration offtheshaft. .ing pendant l.flanges engaging the outer lt will :also lbe' observedfthat-theConstant lengthwise sideso'ii theseetionstolhold the ineshffgears 3S- 4Q-.and alsofthe latter-againstspreading apart. v :gear -l--arefloeated-'Closely-tothe inter- :Q Inffa vari-ablespeedpower transmission fmediategpartition -8- .zand'therefore the having eonstant-mesh intermediate-speed `.inner?partitioni servesv toresist radialvibra- .gearsfseleetivemeans forzfapplying powerto 'tion vof #the interfmediatefportions of the `oneof the Lgears -vfor 'drivingsaid gears fiirst driven-shaft 125- --fand Counter-shaft -inione direetion-and-thenin a reverse direc-` -:13'; during ithe ltransmission of power tionandajournalbearing for the other Agear Yfrom the coi-inter-shaftvto -the intermediate 'iixedfagainstsaxial movement,said other gear fshaftinnder intermediateandlowspeeds and7 having a .hnbjonrnaled in'saidbearing and of course, serves-a similarpurpose-When the proifidedrwith. shoulders engaging opposite .transmission 'fiseperated `under Vhigh speed Y ends -of-thefbearing to holdsaid gear-against reve-rseadrive. -axial thrust. 120 Another important featureof the finven- 3. .In afvariablespeed power transmission, `Vtion consists;in:;providingrtheeenstant mesh a.gearcase having opposite Yend walls and l-;geais 36- :and---B'- anld-f"39 and separat-e sets oi co-axialijournal .bearings .v--LiO-rwith-fhelieal .teeth Iand inf-arranging therein,saidgear-Casehavingvan intermediate thefanglesof obliquityot the teeth of (3o-axial transverse partition, a fdriving l shaft A jonr- 3 `invopposed;relation or-at anangle to `naled in oneot the hearings of o-ne set,.a -eachfwotherso-,thatfthe'-endthrnst of either Adriven lshaft eoeaxialgwithr and' rotatable relagear ineen/e:direetionfwill be eou-nteraetedby tively to the drivingshaftfandgjzournaled.in E'the -endfthrnstrottheotherigear ina reverse ...thieeotherbearing iof .f that. set and also eX- direction. I -tendedthrengh :an opening -inthev partition,

that various changes maybefmade in 'the detail construction without departing 4from .thespirit of ,the invention.

What "I eiaim; is

l. In-:a variable lspeedr'power transmission having Co=aXial driving and f-driven-shafts i100 a ournal hearing in said opening, a countershaft journaled in the end hearings of the other set, costant-rnesh gears between the driving shaft and Counter-shaft and provided With helical teeth, the gear on the driving shaft having a hub extended through its bearing and provided With shoulders engag- Vbetween the counter ing opposite ends of said hearing to resist axial thrust o'f the gear, constant mesh gears shaft and driven shaft having helical teeth, the gear on the driven shaft having a huh journaled in the bearing in the partition opening and provided with shoulders engaging opposite ends of said bearing to resist end thrust of the gear, and a clutch splined on the driven shaft and movable from a neutral position into and out of engagement with the gears on the driven shaft and driven shaft respectively.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th da of August, 1929.

HARLES H. LOGUE. 

